Tool holder assembly



Jan. 28, 1958 c. PIHL 2,821,296

' TOOL HOLDER ASSEMBLY Filed April 5, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY Jan. 28, 1 958 c. PIHL TOOL HOLDER ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed April '5, 1954 vi n A77 02 NE) United States Patent TOOL HOLDERASSEMBLY Carl Pihl, Jamestown, N. Y., assignor of thirty-five percent toLucius J. Seymour, Bemus Point, N. Y.

Application April 5, 1954, Serial No. 421,067 Claims. (31; 206-16) Thisinvention relates to improvements in holders for hand manipulated toolssuch as taps, drills, etc., and more specifically to holders that are soconstructed as to enable securing a number of them in packaged or setform.

Tools of the type intended to be operably mounted in holders of thenature of the invention are frequently provided in sets. The varioustools of the set may be of ditferent proportions or size and a user isthus given great convenience in selection at the time and place of use.Generally speaking, holders for hand manipulated tools are not designedto enable packaging in kits or sets, rather being constructed with aview to properly securing a tool or to providing a suitable hand hold,or both. The present invention contemplates the combining of these ideasby producing a holder for hand manipulated tools that enables the easyand ready insertion or removal of a tool, together with a constructionthat lends itself not only to convenience of use but packaging in setsas well. Insofar as the structure for packaging the holders isconcerned, it is necessary that such structure be of simple design tocooperate with a number of holders and be inexpensive to manufacture inorder that neither the particular structure of the holder nor packagingstructure may constitute any material additional cost of manufacture.

The present invention is directed to and has for one of its objects theprovision of a holder for hand manipulated tools, such as taps, drills,etc., that prevents turning or loosening of a tool during use and yetenables quick and easy replacement of one tool for another.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a holder thatincludes a substantial and easily grasped handle, thus enabling anoperator to exert desired force in use of the tool.

. A further and important object of the invention lies in the provisionof a holder that is so designed as to cooperate with other holders and acontainer in a manner to enable gathering such holders together into kitor set arrangement.

Another and important object of the invention lies in the provision of acontainer that-requires a number of tool holders to be packed inpredetermined relative arrangement which thus provides an attractivedisplay package and gives clear visibility to each of the holders andtools in the package.

A very important object of the invention is found in the provision of acontainer that so cooperates with a number of holders, when in oneposition, to secure them against displacement and yet enables theirready removal from the container when the holders assume anotherposition.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fullyunderstood from a consideration of the following specification, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings; in which:

Fig. -1 is a side elevational view ofaset of tool holders and acontainer therefor and shows one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in Fig.1; I

Fig. 3 is a transverse horizontal sectional View being 2 takensubstantially as indicated by the line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 and shows the posi tion of theholders in the container when they are free to be individually removedor inserted;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of one of the holderswith a tool engaged therewith;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, being taken at right angles thereto;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 and shows the first step in theprocedure of removing a tool from the holder;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing the Wedge key actuated towholly loosen a tool from the holder;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view similar to Fig. 6, and more clearly shows thestructural details for mounting a tool in the holder; and

, Fig. 10 is an enlarged view similar to Fig. 5 and shows a tool inposition preparatory to assembling with the holder.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 isemployed to generally designate a holder embodied in the presentinvention. The tool end 11 of the holder is substantially circular incross section and continues thus from the end 11 to a pointapproximately with a transverse elongated slot 12. From this point on,the holder is formed with opposite fiat faces or sides 13 and thesefaces continue to the other end 14 of the holder, at which point it istapered and notched to receive a winglike handle is. Rivets 17, or anyother suitable means, may be provided as a permanent means of securingthe handle to the end 14.

The tool end 11 is formed with a centered circular opening 18 which isof a diameter to receive the shank 19 of a tool 21. The opening 18terminates substantially at the upper end of the slot 12 (see Fig. 10).It will be noted that the Width of the slot 12 is somewhat less than thediameter of the opening 18 and the walls 22 of this slot thus provide asocket for the tapered squared end 23 of the tool. It will be clear fromthe drawings that to mount a tool in the holder it is merely necessaryto project the end 23 into the opening 18 and move it through thisopening until the tapered walls thereof have frictional engagement withthe walls 22 of the slot. This engagement prevents twisting or turningof the tool with respect to the holder and also suggests that as thetool is manipulated, by way of pressure applied to the handle, thefrictional engagement of tool and holder will, if anything, slightlyincrease rather than decrease over a period of use.

Not infrequently, removable tools become so firmly engaged with theirholders, following a period of use, as to make it difficult to removethem should another tool of diiferent size or proportions be required tobe substituted in the holder. By reason of the fact that the tool end 23projects well into the slot 12, it is of course exposed to viewexteriorly of the holder. Through the use of a wedge key 24 it ispossible to remove any of the most tightly fitting tools by simplyinserting the pointed end 25 of the key into the slot beneath the toolend, substantially as suggested in Fig. 7. Application of a slightdownward force on the outer end of the key loosens the tool, enablingfurther movement of the key into the slot to the position such, forexample, as shown in Fig. 8. From this point, it is merely necessary torock the key and the tool will be sufiiciently freed from its frictionalengagement with the holder as to enable merely withdrawing it from theend 11.

Reference has been made to the fact that each tool holder, commencingbeyond the slot 12, is formed with opposed fiat faces or sides 13. Thisprovision enables mounting a number of holders in a container such asthe strap-like container indicated;v by the reference numeral 26. Thecontainer 26 is shown in its normal or relieved shape in Fig. 4. Hereinthe top and bottom faces 27, that are connected by the rounded ends 28,are somewhat bowed or outwardly curved, The distance.- between the innersurfaces of the curved ends 28 is slightly greater than the over-allwidth of five of the holders when they are in a relationship such thatthe flat faces or. sides 13 are in abutment. Again referring to Fig. 4,it will be noted that the diameter of each holder is somewhat less thanthe space between the bowed faces 27. Insofar as the use of this toolholder is concerned, it is immaterial whether the wing-like handle 16 isaligned with the slot,

12, at right angles thereto, or, in fact, rotated to any other position.However, for the purpose of the present invention, the handles aredisposed at a thirty degree angle to the flat sides 13. Thus, when fiveof these holders are projected into the container, the handles will beinclined as shown. the handles in this position they are sufiicientlyloose within the holder to be individually'or collectively removed orinserted.

In order to secure the holders in the container 26, it is merelynecessary to grasp the wing-like handlesv and simultaneously rotate themto the position of Fig. 3. This causes the flat faces or sides 13 to beturnedand brings the adjacent curved surfaces of the holders intocontact with each other. The result of this is to increase the over-allwidth of the five holders and stretch the container to an extent suchthat the faces 27 are straightened and in contact with the holders. Byplacing tension on the walls of the container, the holders have suchfrictional engagement with each other as to remain in this more or lessfiat or collapsed relationship and present,

in elevation, a kit or set suchas shown in Fig. 1. It will be observedthat a portion of each of the handles 16 is viewable when the holdersare, secured in the container and that, as in the case of the presentshowing of tap tools, it is possible to indicate, on a portion of eachhandle, the size of the tap. The holders 10, in the package shown in thedrawings, are of graduated length only for the purpose of showing thatdifferent size holders may be packaged in the manner described. However,since the holders are provided with flat faces or sides.13, and thesesides are adjacent the handle rather than the tool, it is immaterialwhether the holders are of similar or dissimilar length.

It has already been described that a wedge key is provided for thepurpose of enabling quick and easy removal of a tool from the holder.plete the package, it is proposed to provide a pair of straps 29 on oneface of the container. These straps have ofi'set central portions andenable mounting the wedge key in the manner shown in Fig. 1. Consideringthis figure and Fig. 2, it is evident that a number of holders, havingcertain similar structural details, may be packaged as a kit or set andwith the tools exposed for examination and selection for use. It is ofcourse a simple procedure to remove the holders from the container, thisbeing accomplished by merely holding the container in one hand andsimultaneously twisting the handles 16 in a clockwise direction with theother hand. This rotates the handles and holders from the position ofFig. 3 to that of Fig. 4 wherein the flat faces are again in abutment,the pressure of'the faces 27 of the container relieved, and the holdersmay be removed.

Applicant has shown and'described a holder for tap tools but it isevident that other tools, when provided with tapered ends, may be usedwith the holders. It is contemplated that the presentinvention isapplicable, both as to a toolholder and toolpackage, in varied ormodified form to that shown, and it will be understood that suchvariations or modifications are contemplated as being within the spiritandscopeof the invention insofar as they are setout in theannexedclaims.

It will be understood that with For convenience and to comr 4 Havingthus set forth my invention, what I claim as new. andfor which I desireprotection. by Letter Patent is: l. A container enclosing a, pluralityof tool holders, said holders, in cross section, being of at least twodifferent widths, whereby when in common side by side arrangement theirover-all widthmay be changed, said containers consisting of a flexible;endless strap encirling said tool holders in their side by sidecontacting relation and having a normal endwise contour defined byroundedportions connected by slightly arched opposite sides, saidholders, in one common side by. sidearrangement, loosely occupying thespace within said container and in another common side by sidearrangement, having an over-all width that straightens said arched sidesinto frictional contact with-said holders.

2. A container enclosing a plurality of tool holders that, in part, arenon-circular in cross-section, said container being a flexible endlessstrap encircling said tool holders in their side by side contactingrelation and having an endwise contour defined by semi-circular endsconnected by oppositely arched sides, said holders, in given side byside arrangement, loosely-occupying the space within said container,said holders being pantially'rotatable to change their relationship andcausing the walls of'said container to be straightened to frictionallyengage said sides.

3. A container enclosing a plurality of cylindrical tool holders havingopposed fiat sides, said container being of an endless strap-like natureand having an endwise contour defined by semicircular ends connected byoppositely arched sides, said holders, when in fiat side abutment,loosely occupying the space within said container, said holders beingrotatable to an extent to fill the space within said container bystraightening the arched sides into frictional contact with saidholders.

4. A container enclosing a plurality of generally cylindrical toolholders, said holders having opposed flat sides, said containerconsistingof a flexible endless strap encircling said tool holders'intheir side by side contacting relation and having an endwise contourdefined by semicircular ends connected by oppositely arched sides, thespace within said container, from end to end, accommodating said holderswhen the flat sides thereof are parallel, said holders being rotatable,as a group, to displace lthe sides and increase their over-all width andstraighten the arched sides of said' container into frictional contactwith said holders.

5. A container enclosing a plurality of generally cylindrical'toolholders, said holders having wing-like handles and opposed fiat sidesthroughout a part' of their length, said container consisting of aflexible endless strap encircling said-tool holders in their side byside contacting relation and having an endwise contour defined byrounded ends-connected'by. slightly arched opposite sides, said holdens,when in flat side abutment, loosely occupying the space within saidcontainer, said holders being rotatable to a predetermined extent as agroup by said handles to displace the fiat side by side abutment andincrease their over-all width whereby to spring the arched sides of saidcontainer into frictional contact with said holders.

References .Citedin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS894,250 Woods July 28, 1908 1,053,709 Collins Feb. 18, 1913' 1,119,766Simmons, Dec. 1, 1914 1,252,335 Foote Ian. 1, 1918- 1,438,931 SchmidgallDec. 12,1922 1,502,528 Reulbach July 22, 1924 1,545,002 Martin July 7,1925 FOREIGN PATENTS 119,174 Switzerland Apr. 30,1947

